On Friday, we reported about Kamal Haasan's next film with director SU Arun Kumar being titled Sandiyar. The film marks the first collaboration between actor Kamal and director Arun Kumar, known for helming 2023's Chiththa and last year's Veera Dheera Sooran. Interestingly, Sandiyar was once used as the original title for Kamal's 2004 film Virumaandi before political pressure forced the change. Back then, Puthiya Tamilagam Party founder DR K Krishnasamy led the objection to that title, especially because of its caste connotation and since it came with a poster featuring Kamal holding a sickle.
The term Sandiyar means a street fighter, troublemaker or rogue, but it has connotations related to 'dominant caste strongmen'. At the time, the argument against the title was that it glorified rowdyism based on caste, while valorising 'dominant groups' and running the risk of instigating communal violence. Reportedly, the protest threatened to disrupt Virumaandi's shoot, and while Kamal sought CM Jayalalithaa's support, the government did not grant him protection for picking a contentious title and a sensitive subject for his film. The film was then retitled Virumaandi to avoid security and financial concerns associated with the production.
However, now that the title has been revived for another Kamal Haasan film, Krishnasamy has once again expressed his objection to it and the actor. Speaking to the media, Krishnasamy described the title revival as an act of 'revenge' and said that the decision has been made on Kamal's birthday, despite the protests for the title two decades ago, because of the superstar's arrogance.
Krishnasamy also noted the names of some of Kamal's popular characters and argued that they all have caste elements to it. He added that if the upcoming film is made with the said title, Kamal would have to face a situation where he would be forced to leave Tamil Nadu often, citing its caste-based angle.
